Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour internal clock that primarily regulates your sleep and wake cycles; but its role goes much deeper. It influences hormone release (like melatonin and cortisol), body temperature, digestion, mood, and more. When your internal clock is disrupted, you may struggle with poor sleep, fatigue, mood swings, and an overall sense of being out of sync.
Disruptions in the circadian rhythm affect multiple systems in the body because sleep is a vital time for repair and restoration. A key player in this process is your nervous system, which regulates every other system in your body, including the circadian rhythm. It communicates important information, such as light cues, between your body and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the brain’s master clock that governs circadian rhythms.
However, interference in the nervous system often caused by spinal misalignments, muscle tenson, or chronic stress can block these signals. This prevents your body from maintaining homeostasis and can leave you stuck in either a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) or parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state. When these systems are out of balance, your sleep quality suffers, hormones become dysregulated, and your sensitivity to light and sense of body awareness (proprioception) may decline.
Often, this creates a vicious cycle:
Poor sleep → increased stress → nervous system dysregulation → worsened sleep.
Breaking this loop is essential for protecting your long-term health.
Regular spinal checkups can help reduce interference in the nervous system, easing muscle tension, pain, and improving communication between the brain and body. This supports deeper, more restorative sleep and better regulation of hormones and circadian rhythms.
In addition to spinal checkups, here are a few practical tips to support your circadian rhythm:
·Get morning sunlight as early as possible
·Avoid screens at least one hour before bedtime
·Stick to a consistent sleep schedule (even on weekends)
By prioritizing nervous system health and healthy sleep habits, you create the conditions your body needs to restore itself and ultimately thrive.
